Ohio University's Graduate Student Senate announced an additional $20,000 in travel and work grants will be available to graduate students this academic year.
The additional money brings the total to $70,000 for the entire '08-09 school year, said Jennette Lovejoy, a senator from the Original Work and Travel Grant Committee. The travel and work grants are distributed to graduate students each quarter.
The added money for grants will be helpful because many departments are cutting funding for travel, Lovejoy said.
University departments have tightened restrictions on traveling as part of President Roderick McDavis' $13.9 million cost-cutting campaign for the current fiscal year.
The travel grant can be used for local, national or international travel for professional development. The travel grants are chosen based on a lottery and applications are due by Jan. 23.
The work grant helps fund research-related expenses. Proposals are due by Jan. 26 and will be reviewed by a committee.
The senate also mentioned an ongoing talk with OU Legal Affairs concerning a provision in Graduate Assistant and Teaching Assistant contracts that forbids holding multiple jobs. Pete Wickman, president of the senate, said that Legal Affairs decided the provision is not
legally binding.
The senate had asked Legal Affairs to look into this part of the contract last spring, Wickman said, adding that being a full-time student who also teaches is a lot of work.
The next senate meeting will be Jan. 20.
1 News
Jackie Best
